Folding table



May 1, 1934. A, DUFFY 1,956,946

FOLDING TABLE Filed April 25, 1935 ff M @ai L ff lliiill'/ Patented May l, 1&3@

UNHTED STATES PATENT FOLDING TABLE Andrew Duy, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Application April 26, 1933, Serial No. 668,025

13 Claims.

My invention relates particularly to a combined brace and locking device for holding the legs of a folding table in extended or operative position, or in retracted or inoperative position housed adjacent the table top.

An object and feature of my invention in a table having folding legs is a brace construction for holding the legs in their operative position. In this case the brace extends diagonally from a l0 guide track underneath the table top, the guide track being provided with a socket and the brace having an end piece operating in the track, the end piece being provided with a bolt to it in the socket.

Another feature of my invention is providing a second socket in the track whereby when the legs are folded under the table the bolt engages in the second socket and thus holds the brace from movement.

In addition and as a further feature of my invention, I employ a locking bolt which extends through the leg. This bolt, when the legs is in the folded up position, extends into a socket and retains the leg in its retracted position.

Another feature of my invention is employing spring actuated bolts, the spring urging the bolts into their locking position, such springs being readily accessible for manual operation to release the bolts to permit sliding of the brace and hence 3o hinging of the legs from their retracted to their extended position.

Another detail feature relates to actuating a pair of legs at each end of the table simultaneously by having these connected together.

My invention is illustrated in connection With the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an underneath view of a table taken in the direction of the arrow 1 of Figure 2, showing, however, one pair of legs in the retracted posi- 110 tion.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2--2 of Figure i with both pair of legs in extended position.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of 4.5 Figure 2, illustrating the legs in their retracted position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional detail on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing one oi` the tracks of the guide rail.

In my invention the table is illustrated as having a table top 11 with two opposite side aprons 12 and two end aprons 13. There are a pair of legs 14 at each end of the table, each pair being connected by a bar 15. Each leg has a hinge 16 se- 55 cured to the upper portion of the leg and the under side of the table top. The legs when extended in their operative position have the bar fitting snugly against the end apron 13.

The brace construction designated by the assembly numeral 17 employs a brace rod 18 having Ts 19 and 20 at each end. T 20 is illustrated as having long sleeves 21 connected thereto and extending horizontally. Each sleeve 21 has a flange 22 tting against the leg of a table and such flange is held in place by a ring 23 which is secured to the table leg and its snugly around the flange 22. Each sleeve is provided with a longitudinal slot 24. Slidably mounted in each sleeve there is a bolt 25. Each bolt has an inner end 26, a reduced section 27, and an outer end 28. The outer end passes through a perforation 29 in the leg and extends into a bolt socket 30 in the side apron when the legs are in their retracted position.

Means to slide the leg supporting bolts outwardly comprise a spring construction 31. Each spring has a semicircular bent inner end 32 fitting around the brace rod 18. Two parallel sections 33 fit along this rod. There are then diagonal sections 34 extending outwardly and again tivo parallel sections 35. The spring is then bent into two outwardly extending portions 36 and two ends 37. Each end extends through a slot 24 in the sleeve 21 and is tted into a recess 38 in the end portion 26 of each bolt 25. These springs are tensioned to force the bolts outwardly. The bolts may be retracted by gripping the sections 35 or Se and squeezing the spring in- Wardly toward the diagonal brace bar 18, which action retracts the bolts, the inner ends 26 sliding into the T 20.

The upper end of the brace operates in a guide rack 39. The track has two rails 40 formed L shaped with a horizontal ledge cil. Each rail is secured to the under side of the table top and is provided with a pair of sockets Ll2 and 43. The T 19 secured to the end of the brace opposite the leg end of the brace has a sleeve fifi secured to the T 19. This sleeve has a slot li5 and slidably mounted in each sleeve there is a slidable bolt 46. The bolt when projected may t in the socket li2 or 43. An expansion spring construction 47 is of a similar construction to the spring 31 and is used for the projection of the bolts a6. These bolts may be retracted by squeezing inwardly on the spring 117, thus withdrawing the bolts from the sockets and allowing them to slide on the ledge fil or the guide track.

The guide track is the same on both sides of the center bar e8 of the table, which bar extends across between the side aprons 12 and directly underneath the table top. One pair of legs may be manipulated at a time and for extending these from the retracted to the extended position the bolts holding the legs locked in the sockets 30 must rst be retracted, then the bolts 46 holding the upper end of the diagonal brace retracted from the socket 43. These bolts and the sleeve 44 then slide on the ledge 41 until the bolts 46 are forced by the spring a7 into the socket 42. This braces the legs in their vertical position and when the legs are in such position the end 28 of the bolts through the legs extends beyond the sides of the legs. The legs may be retracted by a reverse procedure.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A table having a top with side aprons, a leg pivoted to the top, a bolt in the leg, the apron having a socket to receive the bolt to retain the leg in its retracted position, a brace operatively connected to the leg, means in the table top to support the brace, and a connection from the brace to the bolt to operate the bolt in the leg.

2. A table having a top structure, a leg hinged thereto, a brace, a sleeve connected to the brace and to the leg, a bolt slidably mounted through the sleeve and the leg, the top structure having a socket to receive the bolt, and means to support the brace from the top structure, the said bolt when engaging the socket holding the leg in a retracted position.

3. A table as claimed in claim 2, a guide track in the top structure and forming the supporting means for the brace, said track having a socket, a bolt connected to the upper part of the brace and insertable in the said latter socket to hold the brace in its operative position with the leg extended.

4. A table having a table top structure with sockets on opposite sides, a pair of legs hinged to said top structure, a sleeve connected to each leg, a brace connected to the sleeves at the center, a bolt slidable in each sleeve, a guide and retaining structure for the brace in the top structure, and means to simultaneously retract or project the bolts, the said bolts when projected engaging in the said sockets and holding the legs in a retracted position.

5. A table as claimed in claim 4, the guide structure comprising a pair of parallel rails each having a pair of sockets, the upper end of the brace having a pair of sleeves and each sleeve having a bolt, with means to project or retract the bolt, and each bolt being adapted to fit in either of the sockets in one rail.

6. A table having a top with side aprons, a pair of legs hinged to the top, each leg being adjacent an apron, a center brace, a sleeve connected to each side of said brace and operatively connected to one of the legs, each sleeve having a slot, a

bolt slidable in each sleeve and through the adjacent leg and insertable in the socket in the adjacent apron, and springs means extending through each slot to project the bolts.

7. A table as claimed in claim 6, a guide track secured to the underside of the tabletop and having a ledge, a pair of sleeves connected to the upper part of the brace, each sleeve having a slot with a bolt in the sleeve, each guide rail having a pair of sockets, a spring extending through each slot to engage a bolt, the spring being operative to project the bolt whereby each bolt may be inserted in either of the sockets on the adjacent rail.

8. A table as claimed in claim 6, the spring having a section secured to the brace, the end portions of the spring extending through the slots in the sleeve.

9. In a folding leg construction for a table, a brace having a pair of diametrically opposite sleeves each with a slot, a bolt slidable in each sleeve, and a spring secured to the brace and having two ends, one end extending through each slot and engaging one of the bolts, the sleeve being tensioned to project the bolt.

10. A table having a table top and a pair of aprons, a leg structure having two legs, said structure being hinged to the table top, a leg being adjacent each apron, each apron having a socket and each leg a perforation, a sleeve operatively connected to each leg at the perforation, the adjacent ends of each sleeve being connected to a brace, each sleeve having a slot therein, a guide track having a pair of rails secured to the under side of the table top, each rail having a ledge and a pair of sockets above the ledge, the brace having a pair of sleeves extending in opposite directions each riding on a ledge, each sleeve having a slot, a bolt in each sleeve insertable in either of the sockets in the adjacent rail, a pair of springs attached to the brace and each having ends extending through a slot engaging one of the bolts, the said spring being adapted to project the bolts.

11. A table having a table top with a pair of aprons, each apron having a socket, a leg structure having two legs, a bar connecting said legs, the leg structure being hinged to the table top, a sleeve rotatably connected to each leg between the bar and the bottom of the leg, a brace rigidly connected to the inner end of each sleeve, each sleeve having a slot, a bolt slidably mounted in each sleeve and extending through a leg and adapted for insertion in one of the sockets, a spring secured to the brace and having two ends each passing through a slot and engaging a bolt to force the bolts outwardly, and a retaining means secured to the table top to engage the end of the brace opposite that connected to the sleeves for adjustably retaining thev brace in an inclined position or in a position parallel to the table top.

12. A table as claimed in claim 11, the spring having a section bent partly around the brace to secure the spring to the brace, and having two diverging sides, the ends of said sides extending each through a slot and each end engaging a bolt.

13. In a table construction, a brace formed of a bar, a pair of sleeves attached to one end of the bar and extending in opposite directions, each sleeve having a slot, a bolt slidably mounted in each sleeve, a spring having one end portion secured to the bar and having two diverging portions with free ends extending through the slots and secured to the bolts adapted to project the bolts outwardly, and a structure having sockets to receive the outwardly projected bolts.

ANDREW DUFFY. 

